Senate, House Candidates Press Toward Finish Line

November 5, 2018 By

FILE – In this Oct. 26, 2018 file photo Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester talks with supporters at a campaign rally at the Billings Education Association headquarters in Billings, Mont. Tester has sought to distance himself from mainstream party figures and stoke his image as a centrist as he faces a strong challenge from Republican Matt Rosendale that’s been boosted by repeated visits to the Montana by President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown,File)

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Candidates for Montana’s closely-contested U.S. Senate race face a grim reality as they press toward Tuesday’s finish: There’s a dwindling pool of voters left after large numbers already cast their ballots before Election Day.

Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is facing another stiff re-election challenge after President Donald Trump made an unprecedented four trips to Montana to stump for Republican challenger Matt Rosendale. Control of the Senate is potentially at stake.

More than 300,000 voters had cast their ballots by Sunday, two days ahead of the Nov. 6 election. That’s almost 43 percent of all of the state’s registered voters, suggesting turnout will be high and also bolstering expectations among election watchers most voters will cast absentee ballots.

On Sunday, the incumbent Tester was making several campaign stops across western Montana. He had a final rally Monday in the city of Great Falls alongside Gov. Steve Bullock and Democratic U.S. House candidate Kathleen Williams.

Rosendale, the state auditor, was attending church services in the state capital of Helena on Sunday and spending time with his family, said spokesman Shane Scanlon.

Both sides have made pitches to veterans as part of their closing election arguments.